Fountains turned off in Trafalgar Square as hosepipe ban starts

Last drops: the fountains in Trafalgar Square are covered by the restrictions and are expected to be turned off this weekend

The hosepipe ban will be in force until at least the autumn and could extend into next year, it was revealed today.

Thames Water also confirmed that the restrictions, which came into force at midnight, will affect about 30 fountains in central London.

Trafalgar Square’s fountains are expected to be turned off at the weekend and could stay dry all summer.

Thames Water’s sustainability director Richard Aylard told the BBC: “It has taken two years of exceptionally dry weather to get us to this position and we are going to need quite a long period of average or above-average rainfall, so realistically the hosepipe ban is going to be in place throughout the summer and into the autumn unless we have a phenomenally wet summer — and I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. But what we really need is winter rainfall.”

But Jacob Tompkins of water conservation group Waterwise said: “This level of dryness is unprecedented — ground water levels are below those of 1976. I fear the restrictions will have to get tighter before they are lifted. The hosepipe ban could last for at least a year and could become indefinite.”

London’s last hosepipe ban, in 2006, was not lifted until January 2007 after a very wet autumn.

Jenny Jones, the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor, today said it was “outrageous” that Thames Water had given big bonuses to directors despite losing more than 600 million litres of water a day through leaky pipes. The company’s highest paid director, chief executive Martin Baggs, received £1.67 million last year.

Fountains that will be turned off include Venus in Sloane Square and those in Hanover Square, Bessborough Gardens and St John’s, Horseferry Road. The Italian Gardens fountains in Kensington Gardens could run dry as they are fed by the Westbourne River, which drops in dry periods. The Diana Memorial Fountain will not be affected as it has its own borehole supply.

Trafalgar Square’s fountains, built in 1845, normally operate from 8.30am to 11pm. But the Greater London Authority said current water stocks will run out at the weekend.

The Mayor’s Office said it was in talks with the Thames Water about finding an alternative non-mains water supply, using less mains water or operating on special occasions.

A Thames Water spokeswoman said: “The water use ban covers fountains and Trafalgar Square’s fountains, and other fountains, will have to be switched off. We understand the importance of public spaces — but also councils need to be water efficient, just like other customers.”

Dampener for Easter getaway

Londoners were told to be braced for “typical Easter weather” following the weeks of glorious spring sunshine as hundreds of thousands set out for breaks.

The Met Office said Good Friday and Saturday were likely to be the best days with sunny spells and temperatures up to 13C.

More unsettled weather is expected to move in from the Atlantic from Sunday, with bands of rain and stronger winds.

Motoring organisations said they expected fewer drivers on the roads than last year, partly because of the bad weather prospects but also because last year’s Easter break came immediately after the royal wedding weekend. Rob Clayton, information manager at traffic data service Inrix, said he expected traffic out of London to peak at about 3pm today with another big surge from midday tomorrow.

The most likely bottlenecks are on the M25 in Essex at junctions 29 to 30, on the M1 as far north as Milton Keynes and on the M4 between junctions 19 and 20 near Bristol.

The major London airports were all said to be busy working normally today although passengers have been warned to be prepared for long delays in immigration halls on their return.